An investigator said the victim was among at least half a dozen women who the alleged attacker had befriended to dupe them in order pay off his heavy debts.(Representative Photo)

Looking to rob the home of a 21-year-old graduation student he had befriended recently, a 28-year-old garments trader stabbed her thrice before fleeing from the crime spot, the police said on Friday.

An investigator said the victim was among at least half a dozen women who the alleged attacker had befriended to dupe them in order pay off his heavy debts. CCTV footage from the neighbourhood helped the police identify and arrest him after they had to issue a look out circular to prevent his escape.

Citing a request from the victim’s family to protect her privacy, the police refused to reveal the identity of the victim as well as the attacker. Hindustan Times has decided to not disclose the area where the crime happened.

The police said the arrested accused is neck-deep into gambling. He had over Rs 50 lakh in debt, an officer said. He had even purchased an expensive car on loan.

During his interrogation he told the police he would frequently befriend young women and then trick them into parting with money by borrowing from them or duping them.

“The man got to know that the victim in this case belonged to an affluent family. He had found out that the woman’s family recently entered a big business deal and had money at home. So he decided to make a friendly entry into the woman’s house when she was alone, kill her and then rob the house,” said the officer.

“On July 10, he went to the woman’s home on a scooter and was carrying a bag that contained a knife, a screw driver, a hammer, a bottle of phenyl and a pair of socks he would wear as gloves,” the officer said.

As soon as the woman opened the door, he allegedly started repeatedly stabbing her. “But when he realised there were other relatives at home, he was forced to abandon his robbery plan and flee,” said the officer.

While escaping, the suspect hurriedly dumped his weapon and other equipment wherever he could. “He threw the items on the road, atop the terrace of a home and inside an abandoned vehicle. He also went on to change his bloodstained clothes, but was captured by a CCTV camera,” said the officer.

The woman was admitted at AIIMS trauma centre where she underwent surgery and is out of danger. The police, meanwhile, issued a lookout circular (LOC) against him to stop him from leaving the country. “We also alerted the security at the airport, railway stations and bus terminals,” the officer said.

Seeking the help of some of his friends who were asked to alert the police immediately on knowing of his whereabouts, the police were able to arrest him on Thursday. His interrogation revealed his alleged modus operandi of befriending women to dupe them.